This was a very touching interview. He made an impact on me and I am grateful we talked. He's right, we DO need to appreciate and enjoy this wonderful country we live in! Interested...check out our other videos on Youtube (FBRE Productions), and www.myspace.com/fbreproductions! I've been to third world countries, and there is no place like home! We love this amazing and beautiful USA!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_kBmfAw3Fk

Please follow the link if you are not re-directed. Also, if you enjoyed this we have more videos on Youtube under FBREProductions, and at www.myspace.com/fbreproductions

Interested? View our other videos on Youtube under FBREProductions, or at www.myspace.com/fbre.com

I got all kinds of positive feedback from our 4th of July Interviews. A few people have no sense of humor, but the rest of us understand that you can respect, appreciate and care about something while laughing. For example, I tease my husband about snoring, but I still adore him! We asked random strangers what the 4th of July ment to them. We had a wonderful time talking and interviewing people at Riverfront park waiting for the fireworks to start...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLTbO70gZY0&feature=related

I will post the videos here and on Utube and My Space. Interested? Check out FBRE productions on Youtube, and www.myspace.com/fbreproductions.

MOST OF THE IDEAS HERE ARE FREE THINGS TO DO IN SPOKANE WA !

1. The Centennial Trail : 37 miles of scenic non motorized trail, for biking, walking, running, rollerblading, dog walking, on the breathtaking Spokane River! Pack a lunch, catch the trail, and get moving!

For information: www.centennialtrail.org

2.Tubing the Little Spokane River! (not the BIG Spokane River, that is too dangerous!)

3. Hiking! There are hundreds of great places to hike around Spokane! Visit www.Spokane.net for ideas. Some of my favorites are: Liberty Lake Community Park Hike, Minihaha, and Mt. Spokane!

4. The Garland Theatre : This used to be a dollar way back when... now you can see movies for 3$ which is still great! http://www.garlandtheater.com/ W. 924 Garland

5. Fishing! OK, There are HUNDREDS of lakes near Spokane, WA. Get your pole and get fishin'! River, lake it's all great!

6.Picnic at the Bowl and Pitcher (Riverside State Park)

7.Cat Tales Zoological Park:

17020 N Newport Hwy
Mead, WA 99021
(509) 238-4126

http://www.cattales.org

8. Riverfront Park in Downtown Spokane ! Rides, Food, music, woo-hoo!

So much to do, so little time www.spokaneriverfrontpark.com

9. Greenbluff! So many fun activities at Greenbluff! www.greenbluffgrowers.com Orchards with fresh fruits and family activities

10. There are 75 parks in the Spokane, WA area. www.spokaneparks.org

Grab a ball and have some fun!

There is soooooooooooo much to do in Spokane, WA! Stay tuned for more great ideas from me.

BethAnn Long ~ Tomlinson South Realtor www.BethAnnHomes.com

Call Spokane Realtor Cory Clure 509-251-3489 www.spokanesagent.com Reasons why homes don't sell If you have had your home on the market for several months and haven't seen much activity or any offers, chances are that one or more of the reasons below are to blame. Your price is too high No doubt about it, the most common reason for a home not selling is that the asking price has been set too high. The reasons for setting your price too high to begin with are many. Ranging from over enthusiastic listing agents to unrealistic seller expectations. Regardless of the reason though, if you've priced your home too high, you've set yourself up for a number of obstacles to selling your home. Even if you do get an offer for the overly high asking price, the deal may fall apart before closing because the buyer may have problems financing at too high a price. Look at other homes for sale, ones as similar and as close to yours as possible. If they are going for less than you are asking, you may be priced too high. The fact is, your home is competing against those other homes, and what buyers are willing to pay is what will determine final sales prices. The condition of your home There is a lot of competition out there to sell homes. Your home has to compete against other similar homes for sale, as well as competing against shiny brand new homes. The more you can do to make your home look appealing to a buyer, the better your chances for a quick sale. Look at your home with a critical eye - put yourself in the buyers position. A buyer doesn't want to have to do anything except move in. Your best "bang for the buck" in improving the condition of your home are paint and flooring. Make sure that all of the paint is in great condition, both inside and out. Repainting doesn't cost too much, and will usually make the biggest impact on buyers. Make sure all of the flooring looks good too. You may want to consider putting in new carpet. Again, it's not that expensive but it sure does make an impact on buyers coming to look at your home. Location, location, location It's the oldest cliché in the world, but it's true. When it comes to real estate, it's all about location! When it comes to homes, things like how good the schools are, crime rates, visual appeal of the neighborhood and noise or the smell of pollution can all effect how desirable the location is. If you're in a bad location, a good real estate agent may help to minimize some of the impact by suggesting improvements to the house. But the only really reliable way to overcome a bad location is with a lower price. Simply put, an identical home in a bad location won't sell for as much as the same home in a better location. Your marketing campaign is out of steam The best listing agents all use an aggressive marketing plan to market their listings. If your listing agent isn't making sure your home can be found easily on the internet, isn't actively touting his or her listings to other agents in the area, isn't running ads in the local newspapers and real estate publications, then it might be time to change agents. The best agents might even run radio or television ads for their listings. If all your agent has done is put a sign in your front yard and add your home to the local MLS, then that agent isn't coming close to doing all that can be done to effectively market your home. The market is slow You'll hear it described as a slow market, or a buyers market, or maybe a cold market. But it all means the same thing. That home sales in the local area, or market, are slow. That there are too many homes for sale and not enough active buyers. There are several things you can do to combat a slow market. The most effective strategy is to sell at a lower price. Buyers are expecting to find bargains during a slow market. You can also help yourself by offering to pay some concessions to help a buyer that might not have a lot of cash. The ultimate way to beat a slow market is to simply wait it out. But that's not always an option for many sellers. Your home isn't easily accessible To get your home sold quickly, it's important that other agents in the area show it to as many potential buyers as possible. When a busy agent is compiling a list of homes to show a buyer, the agent will naturally tend to show those houses that are easiest to gain access to first. Many homes on the market have "lock boxes" on them. The lock box is a device which holds a key to the home, that only qualified local agents can access. Homes that are listed as being "lock box, no appointment needed" will get shown more often than homes listed as "agent has key, call for appointment". If at all possible, you should let your agent put a lock box on your home for easier showing. If not, you should do anything else you can to make it as convenient as possible for agents to show your home. You have an agent nobody likes Sounds almost silly, but it's very true. If your listing agent isn't liked or respected by other agents in your area, it could slow down the sale of your home. When an agent prepares to show properties to prospective buyers, the agent begins by talking to the buyer to find out what kind of home they are looking for. Then the agent searches the local MLS and other sources for homes that fit the buyer. If there are a number of good matches to choose from, and one of them has been listed by an agent that is hard to get along with, or arrogant, or has otherwise made himself unpopular, well... It's just human nature to tend to skip over someone you don't like.

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Tamarack Realty 314 W Sprague Ave Unit 2-316 Spokane, WA 99201-3711
Phone: <script type="text/javascript"></script> 509-251-3489 Fax: <script type="text/javascript"></script> 509-443-3935

In 1974, The Worlds Fair was here in my home town of Spokane WA!

The area developed for the Fair was downtown on the Spokane River. The old clock tower from the railroad has become a historical landmark here in Spokane WA , and is now surrounded by Beautiful Riverfront Park where Expo 74 was hosted.

Here is a photo pre- Expo 74 (Worlds Fair)

HISTORY OF THE CLOCK TOWER:

The Great Northern Railway Depot Tower stands as a physical reminder of the centrality of railroads in the emergence of Spokane as a regional distribution hub during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Construction of the depot commenced in 1901. When it was completed in 1902 it was considered the finest depot west of Chicago. Countless passengers embarked and disembarked at the depot, which served famous passenger trains like the "Empire Builder." The depot's clock tower was retained when the station was demolished in the early 1970s in preparation for Expo '74, the World's Fair that Spokane hosted in 1974. It now stands as a city landmark in the heart of Riverfront Park, the centerpiece of the city.

Now, Here is a RECENT PHOTO of the Clock Tower!

Time Changes every thing. I remeber very well...Expo 74. I actually performed there both solo and with my JR. highschool swing choir. Wow, that dates me! It was a grand time for Spokane, WA and was instrumental in putting us on the map. The highest and best use for this piece of riverfront property has indeed changed over time.

BethAnn Long ~ Spokane WA Realtor, Tomlinson South Inc.

Spokane WA Homes visit my web site! www.BethAnnHomes.com

The South Hill in Spokane, WA is bursting with new activities, and great things to do! I am going to keep you informed of my new favorites.

1. The Village at Regal Pond

A beautiful village of resteraunts and shops with relaxing patios on the pond! Located at the 4300 block of South Regal.

All of the resteraunts are good!

The Fountain at the Village at Regal Pond. Wadells and the Laguna Cafe' have LIVE MUSIC!

Twigs has a great room you can rent upstairs for private parties!

There is an incredible sculpture at the Pond entitled " Summer Breezes" :

I love how Spokane's South Hill is growing into such an interesting community!

2. The Brand NEW Spokane WA South Hill Aquatic Park! (June 2008)

I am soooooooooooo excited about this great water park making a splash on Spokane's South Hill!

Here is a picture of my daughter and her friend at the Water Park. (That'w what I call it!)

Kendra (left) My daughter Meghan (right) at the New Spokane South Hill Aquatic Park!

This place is AWESOME!

All kinds of fun for EVERY AGE!

The BIG SLIDE Flows into a "lazy river" where you can float on tubes!

The Spokane South Hill Water Park is LOCATED on South FREYA about 3-4 blocks south of 57th Ave.

OPEN 10:30-5:30 daily during the summer.

WRAPPING UP, I am sitting in the LAGUNA CAFE at the Village at Regal Pond ~ enjoying some great music, free wireless internet, and yummy food!

Thanks for stopping by!

BethAnn Long, Tomlinson South Inc.

Specializing in Spokane WA South Hill Homes for Sale.

Visit my web site to see the Spokane WA MLS!

www.BethAnnHomes.com

June 28th and 29th2008 - 6300 teams will gather in Spokane WA for HOOPFEST 2008!

This is an incredible weekend of 3 on 3 with teams ranging from small children to pro's! Excitment swooshes through downtown Spokane as it is turned into every basketball lovers dream.

Spokane is truly anamazing place. We pull off some of the most incredible events. My kids have played Hoopfest several times. If you have never been to Spokane WA you may want to plan a trip sometime and visit during Hoopfest if you love basketball!

For more information, visit www.hoopfest.net

BethAnn Long, Tomlinson South Inc. ...Jumping through real estate hoops for YOU!

www.bethannhomes.com visit my real estate web site!

Hello Everyone,

Spokane Real Estate is prime for Spokane Real Estate Investors right now. Home prices have come down a bit, but more importantly inventory is up and bank short sales are rising and more importantly now they are finnaly getting reasonable about the offers they will take.

What does this mean to you? Well, it's time to peel back the eyes and keep a look on what is going on out there. If you are thinking of getting started investing in Spokane real estate, now is a good time. While everyone else is worrying about the economy, investors are buying, buying, buying.

Remember when things are going bad, people are getting rich. Will you take advantage of this market so that when it goes up you can cash in? If you want real help in Investing in Spokane Real Estate just call us and let us know what your goals are and we have many tools and expertise designed to get you the most out of every transaction. Call us 509-362-1966

If you live outside of Spokane Washington we can help you invest in one of the still safe and great places to buy out of state real estate investments. We have tools for investors to track properties and see homes first as they come on the market. Call us.

In a fascinating, yet somewhat obscure community here in Spokane Wa. called "Vinegar Flats", sit's a little white house on Chestnut Street. Nestled along Hangman Creek( also known as Latah Creek) between the back side of the South Hill and Highway 195, this charming neighborhood is little known - even by Spokane natives.

When I drive through Vinegar Flats, my bones tingle. I am filled with curiosity and fascination of how my grandparents walked these streets and made there way with a dog kennel business here. I guess being a dog lover is just another hereditary thing for me.

My father, J.Pat O'Neill (now 81) was about 16 when his parents and siblings moved here from Superior ,Montana.

My dad is indeed a fascinating character. His Irish heritage and meager upbringing give him qualities I only hope to possess.

After school, my dad served in the Army, and came home to Spokane and married my mother, and they raised 7 children. My dad was in various sales careers until he landed his niche in Real Estate. Owning and brokering one of Spokane's largest real estate companies in the 70's.(J.Pat O'Neill realty)

Now that I have been in real estate for 5 years, I realize the incredible reputation my father has. I have had so many brokers and agents express their high regard for my father. His integrity and charm are consistently mentioned when someone chats with me about my dad.

My dad is a balanced blend of practical, witty, cautious, intelligent, generous, and supportive.

How many 81 year olds do you know who show up at their grandkids performances in coffee shops, pubs, ect. and sit among the tattoo laden twenty somethings smiling from ear to ear with pride while listening to inde music?

How many 130 pound great grandpas do you know that dog sit for their kids, including dogs that are bigger than them?

If the little white house walls could talk, they might reminisce of a young man who whistled while he walked , having no idea of the powerful legacy he would build with 7 children, 22 grandkids and 13 great grandchildren who all love and admire him.

My father is a true servant to this day. Helping an elderly gentleman in his condo complex just this past week, he moves through life quietly helping everyone he touches. Without asking for anything in return, my father gives of his time and energy.

I have never heard my dad say an ill word about anyone. (OK maybe a politician).

Quite frankly, I have never heard my father complain. I think there is so much to learn from the generation who fell on harder times, and truly appreciates the small things.

My father will not waste anything. Even a half of a peanut butter sandwich. Would if all the world was this resourceful?

I am exceedingly grateful that my grandparents, long gone, settled here in the little white house on Chestnut Street and made their mark.

Thank you dad, for being a man of integrity and service. Happy Fathers Day 2008, I love you!

(PS FATHERS DAY WAS STARTED RIGHT HERE IN SPOKANE, WA ! By Sonora Dodd )

BethAnn in Spokane

www.BethAnnHomes.com

Spokane WA REALTOR

Eagle Ridge & Indian Canyon - home of the Qualchan Golf Course. This is just one of the tremendous views from the miles of paved trails throughout the estate. The exercise from walking or running or jogging or biking is reward enough but the refreshment from your surroundings is immeasurable. It sure is great to be alive!